Shadow Legendaries are arguably the best form of Pokémon you want to have in your Pokémon GO storage. They are because of their 20% attack bonus in battles and that they are rare to get. If you do have their non-shadow normal forms, you will do just fine. However, you will want to have these in your battle party, especially in raids.
There are two main ways to obtain Shadow Legendaries in Pokémon GO. One way is via the encounter you get after winning Shadow Legendary Raids. The other is via the encounter you get after defeating Giovanni, the Team GO Rocket boss.
Shadow Legendaries from Giovanni
Giovanni gets featured once in a while in Pokémon GO. This happens during the Team GO Rocket events. Pokémon GO Trainers get the opportunity to battle a certain number of Grunts, the leaders (i.e., Sierra, Cliff, Arlo), and then Giovanni. The Team GO Rocket events come with a Special Timed Research that allows Trainers to obtain a Super Rocket Radar. You need a Super Rocket Radar to locate and Battle Giovanni. You only get the lose the Super Rocket Radar if you defeat Giovanni.
- You battle Grunts to get Mysterious Components
- You get to locate and battle either Sierra, Cliff, or Arlo after accumulating six (6) Mysterious Components.
- You need six (6) Mysterious Components to battle each of the leaders.
- Based on the Special Timed Research, you get a Super Rocket Radar after defeating the three (3) leaders.
Here is the list of the Shadow Legendary Pokémon Giovanni has had in the past.
- Shadow Articuno: November 2019 and February 2021 to March 2021.
- Shadow Zapdos: December 2019 and March 2021 to May 2021.
- Shadow Moltres: January 2020 and May 2021 to June 2021
- Shadow Raikou: February 2020 to March 2020.
- Shadow Entei: March 2020 to July 2020.
- Shadow Suicune: July 2020 to October 2020.
- Shadow Mewtwo: October 2020 to January 2021, and November 2022 to February 2023.
- Shadow Ho-Oh: June 2021 to November 2021.
- Shadow Lugia: November 2021 to April 2022.
- Shadow Latias: April 2022 to July 2022.
- Shadow Latios: July 2022 to November 2022.
- Shadow Registeel: February 2023.
- Shadow Regice: March 2023 to June 2023.
- Shadow Regirock: June 2023 to October 2023.
- Shadow Regigigas: October 2023 to January 2024.
- Shadow Kyogre: January 2024 to March 2024.
- Shadow Groudon: March 2024 to August 2024.
- Shadow Cresselia: August 2024 to October 2024.
- Shadow Heatran: October 2024 to January 2024.
- Shadow Palkia: January 2024 till now.
Shadow Legendaries from Raids
Shadow Legendaries have been in the game for quite some time now, especially from Giovanni. However, Shadow Legendary Raids are relatively new. To put this into perspective, the first Shadow Raid, (Shadow Mewto) made its debut in Pokémon GO on Monday, May 22, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. local time.
The following are the Shadow Legendary Pokémon that have been featured in raids.
- Shadow Mewtwo
- Shadow Articuno
- Shadow Zapdos
- Shadow Moltres
- Shadow Raikou
- Shadow Entei
- Shadow Suicune
- Shadow Lugia
- Shadow Registeel
- Shadow Ho-oh
- Shadow Regice
- Shadow Regirock
I hope you find this list useful,
